Education that works for working parents

When working parents consider returning to study, the decision is rarely simple.It is not only about ambition or career progression.

It is about calendars, school runs, project deadlines, monthly budgets, and the quiet calculation of whether there is enough time left in the week to add something more.

At Knights College, these conversations happen regularly. Prospective students enquire about programmes, in an enthusiastic but cautious manner. Their question is rarely “Can I do this academically?” It is usually “Can this realistically fit into my life?”

Over the years, I have seen capable individuals delay further study not because they lacked ability, but because the structure of traditional programmes did not align with the realities of their lives. Fixed daytime schedules, large upfront payments and rigid progression routes can unintentionally exclude those already balancing multiple responsibilities.

If access to education is to be meaningful, institutions must design academic programmes around real life rather than expecting life to adjust.

At Knights College, this principle shapes how our programmes are built and delivered. Most of our students are in full-time employment. Many are raising families. For them, flexibility is not an added feature, it determines whether study is possible at all.

Lectures at Knights College are scheduled primarily across weekends, allowing students to attend without stepping away from their professional roles. Part-time study should not require a full-time rearrangement of personal commitments.

Support is equally important. Working parents operate within limited margins of time and energy. When unexpected pressures arise — whether professional or personal — academic systems must remain steady rather than adding strain. Our academic team and faculty at Knights College remain accessible and present, providing guidance when needed and maintaining clear communication throughout the student journey.

Teaching is delivered by faculty with significant industry experience. Academic standards remain rigorous, but learning is anchored in practical application. Through a work-based assessment model, students integrate assignments into their professional environments. Rather than separating study from work, the two become connected. The outcome is not only academic achievement, but measurable impact within the workplace.

We also recognise that adult life does not follow a straight line. There are moments when priorities shift. At Knights College, when working parents need to pause their studies temporarily, they can do so and return without penalty. Education should accommodate the stages of life rather than assume uninterrupted availability.

Financial planning is another critical factor. Upfront costs can discourage capable individuals from taking the next step in their education. 

At Knights College, we address this by offering flexible payment structures that make studying more manageable. We also provide free childcare for parents studying with us, giving them peace of mind that their children are cared for while they attend their lectures. Our programmes — from Sixth Form through to Doctoral level — are also eligible under the Government’s Get Qualified Scheme, which provides tax credits of up to 70% of the course cost. 

In addition, a limited-time discount of up to 20% is currently available across our core pathways until March 15.

Quality remains consistent across all levels at Knights College. Students enrolling on any of our programmes receive the same standards of teaching and support. Class sizes are also intentionally kept personal, ensuring accessibility to faculty and sustained academic oversight.

Our part-time MBA illustrates this approach clearly. Delivered entirely in focused weekend sprints, post-graduate students at Knights College are given the space  to engage fully during structured sessions without extending already demanding weekdays.

For working parents, returning to education is rarely about making a dramatic life change. It is about steady progression — improving skills, strengthening leadership capacity, and building long-term security for their families.

Designing programmes that respect this reality is not a marketing decision. It is an institutional one.

At Knights College, our focus remains clear: to deliver academically rigorous, industry-relevant education in a format that works alongside professional and family life, not against it.

Kristina Galea Borg, Principal, Knights College